May. 30, 2014

Why Do Some Songs Stick in Our Heads?

Certain tunes are more than just appealing—they seem to get “stuck” in our minds. Song fragments that we can’t stop humming are called “earworms.” Musical psychologist Elizabeth Margulis describes what might cause these tenacious tunes and why repetition in music is so catchy. (For more on earworms, check out this SciFri article.)

Produced by Alexa Lim, Associate Producer

Guests

Elizabeth MargulisAuthor, “On Repeat: How Music Plays the Mind” (Oxford University Press, 2013)Professor, MusicDirector, Music Cognition LabUniversity of ArkansasFayetteville, Arkansas